AB Cattlelac

Barley

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'AC Ranger' and 'Vivar'

Summary: At booting, the auricles on the flag leaf of 'AB Cattlelac' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas those of both reference varieties have a very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The flag leaf sheath of 'AB Cattlelac' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas both reference varieties have a sheath with weak glaucosity. At the beginning of ripening, the plants of 'AB Cattlelac' are taller than the plants of both reference varieties. The spike of 'AB Cattlelac' has a medium degree of glaucosity whereas the spike of 'AC Ranger' has weak glaucosity and the spike of 'Vivar' has absent or very weak glaucosity.

Description:

YOUNG PLANT: semi-erect growth habit at tillering, absent or very sparse pubescence on lower leaf sheath
PLANT: six row, spring feed and forage type, absent or very low frequency of plants with recurved flag leaves, mid-season spike emergence

FLAG LEAF (AT BOOTING): sparse pubescence on blade
FLAG LEAF SHEATH: medium glaucosity, sparse pubescence
AURICLES: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, sparse pubescence on margins

SPIKE: medium degree of glaucosity, erect attitude, cup shaped collar, tapering shape, medium density, glume and awn of the median spikelet are longer than the grain
LEMMA AWNS: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration of tips, longer than spike length, semi-smooth spiculation on margins
FIRST SEGMENT OF RACHIS: short, weak curvature

KERNEL: whitish aleurone layer, short rachilla hairs, husk present, strong anthocyanin colouration of nerves of lemma, strong spiculation of inner lateral nerves of dorsal side of lemma, hairiness of ventral furrow absent, clasping disposition of lodicules, horseshoe shaped basal markings, medium length and width

AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: good resistance to lodging, fair resistance to shattering, good tolerance to straw breakage, fair tolerance to drought, poor malting quality

Origin & Breeding History: 'AB Cattlelac' (experimental designation SR14501) originated from a cross between the proprietary line H92032003 and the variety 'AC Ranger' made in 2002 at the Field Crop Development Centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The F1 and F2 generations were increased and the F3 generation was grown in bulk in a winter nursery in California, USA. In 2004 through to 2007, the lines were grown in bulk in Lacombe, Alberta. At the F8 generation, the line designated as SR14501 was selected from field headrows and subsequently grown in yield trials from 2009 to 2015. Selection criteria included grain yield and test weight, lodging resistance, disease resistance, maturity and grain quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'AB Cattlelac' were conducted in Lacombe, Alberta during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. Each trial was arranged in a RCB design with 3 replicates. Plots consisted of 8 rows 2.5 metres in length and a row spacing of 14 cm. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 30 measurements. Mean differences were significant at the 5% probability level based on unpaired Student's T-tests.

Comparison table for 'AB Cattlelac' with reference varieties 'AC Ranger' and 'Vivar'

Plant height (stem plus spike, including awns) (cm)

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Barley: 'AB Cattelac' (centre) with reference varieties 'AC Ranger' (left) and 'Vivar' (right)